Door-closer.



No. 796,420. PATENTBD AUG. a, i905.

G.` N. HALL. Y DOOR cLosBR.

APPLICATION FILED TEE. 17. 1904. L

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

y No. 796,420.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 8, 1905.

Application led February 17, lBO. Serial No. 194,091.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known I, GEORGE N. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Closers, of which the following isa specification` In door-closers now commonly in use asin- "le spring is employed, the tension of which spring increases as the door is swung open. n order that the spring shall close the door .vhen not aided by the momentum of the door and, further, shall not hold it closed against wind-pressure and other influences tending to open it, it is necessary to place the spring under a considerable degree of tension at the end of its movement-to wit, when it is in a closed position. When the door is opened, this tension is increased, with the result that both the spring and the door are overloaded andracked. Loosening the spring to overcome this objection leaves it too weak to properly close the door and tightening it as it becomes weakened by use makes it less elastic. l

One of the objects of this invention is the production of a door-closer adapted to exert its greatest power as the door nears the closed position.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a closer wherein the power exerted upon the door to close it and hold it closed is effected by a different means from that employed to move the door through the greater portion of its arc of movement.

A further ohjec'tof the invention is the production of such a closer wherein two springs coact to close the door, each operating during different portions of the swinging movement of the door.

The invention further relates to the improvements in the construction of such a door closer hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is `a perspective View of a door-closer embodying the features of 'my invention and showing the same as applied to a door. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a door-closer with the door and door-casing in section. Fig. 3 is aview similar to the last preceding figure, but showing the door opened through an arc of ninety degrees.

In the drawings, A refers to the door-casing, B to the door, and() to one of the hinges upon which the door swings.

In the production of a door-closer embody- 1 adjacent to the loop 4.

ing my invention I provide amain bracket l, which may be made of malleable iron or preferably, as herein shown, of wire. This main bracket is formed with two securing-eyes 2 and 3 at one of its ends, with the spring-attaching' loop 4L at its opposite end and with the two intermediate bearing-eyes 5 and 6 formed in the wire` composing the bracket on opposite sides .thereof alined with each other and being somewhat higher from the base upon which the bracket'is intended to rest than the loop 4E. The bracket is intended to be secured to the inner face of the door-casing A by means of screws 7 passing through the eyes 2 and 3 and by similar screws 8, adapted l to be placed within the corners of the bracket 9, also of wire, having side bars 10 and an end bar 11, is pivotally mounted in the bearing-eyes 5 and 6, the extremities of said side bars being bent outward at a right angle to enter said bearing-eyes and forming bearings 12 therein.

An extension coiled spring 13 extends between the loop 4 of the main bracket 1 and the end bar 11 of the swinging frame 9, the eyes 14 and 15 at opposite ends of said spring providing means for its attachment to said loop and said end bar.

The mechanism just described comprises that portion of the closer intended to be se-y cured to the door-casing. To the door B is fastened a spring 16, formed in this instance of a single piece of spring-wire, the extremities of which wire are bent to form the eyes 17 to provide a securing-base for said spring 16. From the eyes 17 the wire composing the spring extends outward, making at a little distance from said base several turns forming the coils 18, and from these coils extends outward in an arm 19,the outer extremity of which arm is bent over in a hook 20. Screws 21 pass through the eyes 17 and entering the door B hold the spring 16 securely in place thereon. The outer end of the spring-arm 19 is connected with the end bar 11 of the swinging frame 9 by means of a loop 22, also of wire, the middle portion of which loop ex- `tends over the hook 20 of the spring-arm 19,

while the extremities of the wire forming said loop are bent to form the hooks 23 to surround said end bar.

When the parts are in positionthat is to say, the main bracket 1 properly secured to the door-casing and the spring 16 to the in- A swinging frame ner side of the door by means of their attaching-screws 7, 8, and QI-thev spring 16 and the spring-arm 19 thereof stand at substantially a right angle with reference to each other, the pull of said spring tending to move the swinging frame 9 in an arc, and thus exerting a strain on the spring-arm 19 in the direction of its length. When the door B is opened outwardly on its hinges C, the swinging frame 9 is moved forward toward the door` on its bearings 12, stretching the spring 13. This pull upon the spring 13 continues until the swinging frame is moved to such position that the point of attachment of said spring with the end bar is brought into a plane with the bearings l2 of the swinging frame and the point of attachment of the spring 13 to the loop 4. When this point is reached,the spring 13 is pulling over a dead-center, and therefore ceases to exert a pull upon the door B, said door then passing under the influence of the spring 16, which latter controls the door through the remainder of its opening movement. As will be seen, the spring 16 is cornpressed or wound up by the opening movement of the door, and when said door is released the spring 16 tends to close it, not rapidly, but quite gently, inasmuch as it is not and need not be exceedingly strong. When the spring 16 reaches that certain point in the closing movement of the door when the tension of said spring is suicient to throw the swinging frame 9 off from its dead-center, the door is thereby immediately placed under the control of the spring 13, which being much stronger than the spring 16 closes the.

door quickly. The point in the movement of the door at which the action of the spring 13 ceases is governed by the formation of the bracket l-that is to say, if the bearing-eyes 5 and Gland the loop et are placed near to.- gether and the loop is somewhat lower than the bearing-eyes the action of the spring 13 will be exerted upon the door for only a short portion of its movement,whereas if said bearing-eyes and said loop are placed wide apart and at about the same distance from the base of the bracket 1 the swinging frame 9 must travel through a considerable arc before the two points of attachment of the spring 13 are brought into a plane with the bearing-eyes 5 and 6, and the action of the spring 13 willtherefore be exerted upon the door through a considerable'portion of its swinging movement. The tension of the spring 16 must be suiicient to throw the swinging frame outward'over its dead-center in order that the spring 13 shall be placed in position to exert its force upon the door. In practice it is arranged so that the tension of the spring 13 shall be brought to bear upon the door just before said door reaches its closed position. By this arrangement the door is closed certainly and tightly and Without slamming. In opening the door the greatest spring resistance is encountered at the first part of the movement of the door. As soon as the door has been opened sufficiently to throw the swinging frame 9 over its center the spring 13 ceases to exert any pull on the door, forming, in eiect, while in this position merely a means of attachment for the outer end of the spring-arm 19.

The hooks'23 of the loop 22 are sufiiciently open to permit of the detachment of said loop from the end bar 11 of the swinging frame 9. Thus when it is desirable to relieve the door y from the action of its closer-spring this loop is unhooked from said endl bar.

Obviously many changes may be made in the embodiment herein shown of this inven- .tion without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, wherefore I desire not to limit 'myself to the precise details herein set forth.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In adoor-closer, 1n combination,a swlnging frame; a spring extending between said swinging frame and a point fixed relatively Vto said frame, the pivotal bearings of said swinging frame being out of the plane of the points of bearing of said spring; and a spring connected with said swinging frame, adapted to be secured to the door and to exert a pressure in a direction to move said swinging frame upon its pivotal bearings.

2. In adoor-closer, in combination, aswinging frame; a spring extending between said frame and a point fixed relatively to said frame, the pivotal bearings of saidV swinging vframe being located at a point intermediate the points of bearing of said spring; and a spring` for connecting said swinging frame to a door.

3. In a door-closer, in combination, aswinging frame pivotally mounted at one of its ends;

a spring extending between the other end of said frameand a point xed relatively to said frame; and a spring for connecting said swinging frame to a door.

4. In a door-closer,in combination,a bracket adapted to be attached to a door-casing, having a spring-attaching loop and a bearing located somewhat forwardly from said loop; a member pivotally mounted at one of its ends in said bearing; a spring attached at its opposite ends to the other end of said member and to said spring-attaching loop; and means for connecting the last-mentioned end of said pivoted member to a door.

5. In a door-closer, in combination, a bracket having a spring-attaching loop and a bearing located somewhat forwardly from said loop; a member pivotally mounted at one of its ends in said bearing; a spring attached at its opposite ends to the other. end of said member and to said spring-attaching loop; aspringadapted to be mounted upon the door and means for operatively connecting said spring with said pivoted member.

6. In a door-closer,in combination,a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the door-casing,

said bracket having a spring-attaching loop and a bearing located somewhat forwardly from said loop; a member pivotally mounted the door and havingr a forwardly-projecting arm; and means whereby said arm 1s detachbl t d with said pivoted frame. a y comme B GEORGE N. HALL.

of said member and to said spring-attaching loop; a spring adapted to be mounted upon ion in Letters mm...

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 796,420, granted August 8, 1905, upon the application of George N. Hall, of Lincoln, Nebraska, for an improvement in Door-Closers, au error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 13, page 1, the word not should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

signed and sealed this 12th day of septembe, A. D., 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

[SEAL] Y Commissioner of Patents.

said bracket having a spring-attaching loop and a bearing located somewhat forwardly from said loop; a member pivotally mounted the door and havingr a forwardly-projecting arm; and means whereby said arm 1s detachbl t d with said pivoted frame. a y comme B GEORGE N. HALL.

of said member and to said spring-attaching loop; a spring adapted to be mounted upon ion in Letters mm...

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 796,420, granted August 8, 1905, upon the application of George N. Hall, of Lincoln, Nebraska, for an improvement in Door-Closers, au error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 13, page 1, the word not should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

signed and sealed this 12th day of septembe, A. D., 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

[SEAL] Y Commissioner of Patents.

borrecrion m Lette mem Letters Patent No. 796,420, granted August 8, 1905,

upon the application of George N. Hall, of Lincoln, Nebraska, for an improvement in Door-Closers, au error appears in the printed spe should be stricken out; and that the said cifcaton requiring correction, as

follows: In line I3, page 1, the word non Lemme PnLent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform Signed and sealed this 12th day 0f September, A. D.` ITM-5,

I". IA ALLEN,

( 'ommissz'oner of Patents. 

